Monday, February 05, 2007

Spamalot



I'm starting to get hit by random spambots posting comments on ancient posts.

Not sure what to do. I only get a fraction of the visits that most of you get, so I'm guessing you get more of this than I do. How do you handle it? Do I need to start that distorted word verification thing?

I'd rather not go as far as comment moderation. To me, that always screams censorship and borderline paranoia. I don't care what real, live, breathing and thinking sentient beings put in the comments.

But when I get some anonymous comment on a post I published 18 months ago that includes a link to a Volvo dealership or a discount warehouse, I'd really like to stop that without inconveniencing my handful of loyal visitors.

So give me your thoughts. What would be the least obnoxious way for me to stop the spam without discouraging comments?

I'm open to suggestions. But, I AM the Decider!

10 comments:

FletcherDodge said...

I think eventually everyone opts to choose the word verification to control blogspam. Heres the post where I finally decided to do so.

Also, get $5 dollar trades adn 24/7 account access with eTrade.

Janet said...

just use the word verification, it's not obnoxious. Everyone who already has a blog will totally understand.

Faith said...

I don't understand what the problem is with having random spam comments on ancient posts. (It happens on my blog, too...) People should be able to detect what is spam and what isn't, and if those who come aimlessly by to read our archives suddenly try to pick a fight with someone trying to get them to visit a Russian porn site, then that's their beef. (And it's also kinda sad...)

Why does it bother you? (I haven't had a need to set up any word verification on my blog, yet. Works fine for me.)

Anonymous said...

I would make a suggestion, but I don't use Blogger.

Wordpress nicely handles all this peon nonsense.

Xavier Onassis said...

I got to thinking about what Faith said. I guess the only reason it bugs me is because I have things set up so that if someone comments on one of my posts, I get an email notifying me that there is a new comment.

Which I like, because I cherish each and every comment as though it were my own child.

Even emaw's comments. Most of them, anyway. Well, I think there were one or two that made me chuckle.

Or am I confusing him with Dan over at Gone Mild?

But I digress.

So now, I'm getting half a dozen emails a day telling me there is a new comment, and when I make the effort to go look it's just another anonymous piece of spam offering to double the size of my johnson.

{I'll let this obvious and juvenile opportunity to make grandiose claims about my manly proportions pass in deference to my more delicate and sophisticated readers. Like emaw.}

It's just annoying.

I suppose I could just control it from yahoo by banishing any email from anonymous to my spam folder.

Duh.

Of course, I might miss out on some REAL comments by folks who just want to remain anonymous.

Ah, fuck 'em. If they can't be bothered to make up a clever nom de plume before plopping their little turd in my literary punch bowl then I probably won't like what they say anyway.

Thanks for letting me think out loud and sort through this situation.

You guys are the best.

Even emaw.

Happy In Bag said...

I use word verification, which cuts out most English-language spam. But lately I've been getting spam written in Chinese. I don't get it.

Joe said...

Go with the word verification, its no big deal to real posters. I had to ban anonymous posting when my current wife told me that I'm not an Athiest, just someone looking for attention. She hasn't posted since.

Iwanski said...

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Dan said...

I'm with Faith. If you go back and look at some of my ancient posts, you'll find spam in the comments. For me, it's a case of "no blood, no foul."

But to confuse me with Emaw?? I suspect we're both insulted, but me more than him.

Xavier Onassis said...

Well, I've gone and done it now.

Clicked on an "anonymous" email and flagged it as SPAM!

Now my yahoo thinks that ANY comment left on my blog is spam. Doesn't even bother to put it in my spam folder.

I'm sure that the Yahoo Customer Service Hotline staff will rush to help me correct my mistake.